WNDB strives to create a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book. To reach this goal, we've created programs to celebrate diverse books, to mentor diverse writers and illustrators, to support diverse publishing professionals, and to provide books to classrooms nationwide.
Sort our full list of programs by clicking on any of the categories below:
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#BooksSaveLives
Our Books Save Lives campaign will employ a three-pronged strategy to directly address book bans and champion diverse books. While supporting the educators and authors most affected by the bans, we will raise awareness, provide resources, and create positive change.
2023 Black Creatives Mentorship Program
The Black Creatives Mentorship for Black Creatives will introduce Black writers to the ins-and-outs of the publishing industry through one-on-one mentorship and programming with other industry professionals designed to develop their networking skills as well as hone their craft.
Anthologies
Our short story anthologies feature diverse work written by award-winning and upcoming diverse voices.
Black Creatives Fund
The mission of the Black Creatives Fund is to support emerging and established Black writers and illustrators.
Black Creatives Marketing Workshop for Published Authors
The Black Creatives Marketing Workshop for Published Authors will provide authors guidance and innovative marketing techniques to amplify their stories and reach a broader target audience.
Heartdrum
Heartdrum is a Native-focused imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books, author-curated by Cynthia Leitich Smith and edited by Rosemary Brosnan.
Internship Grant Program
The Internship Grant program awards supplemental grants to diverse students pursuing a career in children’s publishing.
LitUp
LitUp will provide five emerging writers with an all-access paid retreat, a three-month mentorship with a published author, and marketing support for Reese’s Book Club.
Mentorships
Our Mentorship program supports diverse creators early in their career by pairing them with an experienced children’s author or illustrator.
Native Children’s and YA Writing Intensive
The Native Children’s and YA Writing Intensive will offer an opportunity for reflection, conversation, celebration, and manuscript and career development to Native/First Nations writers.
Native Fund
The Native Children’s and YA Writing Intensive will offer an opportunity for reflection, conversation, celebration, and manuscript and career development to Native/First Nations writers.
PRH Creative Writing Awards
The Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards are a scholarship program designed to highlight, encourage, and support diverse student voices.
Rise Up
Rise Up will is a retention program for diverse adult and children’s mid-level publishing professionals. Rise Up will include a community platform for publishing professionals to connect and share resources, virtual professional development webinars, and additional programming to support mid-level publishing professionals.
The Walter Awards
Inaugurated in 2016, the annual Walter Dean Myers Awards for Outstanding Children’s Literature recognize diverse authors (or co-authors) whose works feature diverse main characters and address diversity in a meaningful way.
Walter Grant
The Walter Dean Myers Grant provides financial support to diverse authors and illustrators who are currently unpublished.
